Week 7 Texas vs. Georgia Preview: Keys to the Game

Although the Bulldogs and Longhorns have met five times, this is their first meeting as conference opponents. And it will be anything but pretty.

Georgia has proven itself time and time again to be national championship material and is still hungry for more this season in hopes of reclaiming its No. 1 title from Texas.

If both teams continue to remain dominant, they could face each other a second or possibly a third time to compete for both the SEC and national championships.

This game will truly be a performance by two solid teams that leave everything on the field, and the Bulldogs are considered one of the most, if not the most, challenging opponents on Texas’ schedule. Here are some key factors that every team must implement if they want to achieve a win.

…it brings its best on both sides of the ball.

Georgia has a history of giving opponents no mercy when it comes to scoring goals and has one of the best defenses in the country. The Bulldogs have managed to outscore their opponents 201-103. The only practical way to take on a program that can dominate on both sides is to match its competitiveness and energy.

Texas’ offense needs to stay as clean and focused as possible, and that includes not giving in to pressure. Starting quarterback Quinn Ewers appeared tired while passing the ball against Oklahoma, recording just under 200 passing yards and reverting to short passes while failing to score on deep passes.

That being said, Texas’ defense looks solid all around and has shown that it can prevail when the offense doesn’t get going, limiting its opponents to just 3.7 yards of offense per game.

However, you shouldn’t rely on rushing or passing in this game, and the same goes for offense and defense. All aspects must be played at the highest level if Texas has any hope of a convincing win over Georgia.

…it takes advantage of the mistakes Texas is prone to early on.

The Longhorns have thrown an interception in all but one game so far this season, both in the first half, and recovered six fumbles. Sarkisian has mentioned several times that the team’s turnover margin is unacceptable and that Georgia is an opponent that knows how to capitalize on a loss of possession.

If the Bulldogs can force turnovers and pressure Ewers to create scoring opportunities in the first half, Texas may have to look for a comeback in the second half when it matters most.

It will take everything Texas has to beat such a strong group of athletes, but Georgia can’t let up either. The Longhorns will bring with them a team that has shown it can rise to any challenge and fit right alongside the top teams.